Break Up or Break Through: A Spiritual Guide to Richer Relationships - Softcover

Evan, Dina Bachelor, Ph.D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1555836399 ISBN 13: 9781555836399

Publisher: Alyson Pubns, 2001

Synopsis

Offers rules for successful relationships for gay couples, with advice on how to respect boundaries, overcome personal limitations, and create intimacy, along with breathing exercises and a spiritial personal inventory checklist.

About this title

About the Author

Dina Bachelor Evan is a California licensed marriage, family and child counselor who holds doctorate degrees in Human Behavior and Holistic Health. She has offices in Phoenix and travels nationwide presenting workshops and seminars. During the National March on Washington, she married 10, 000 gay men and lesbians on the steps of the I.R.S. She has also won national acclaim as a child and human rights advocate. She was awarded the LACE award for outstanding spiritual contribution to the community in Los Angeles California by The Gay and Lesbian Community Service Center

Reviews

Psychotherapist Dina Bachelor Evan claims that 98% of the couples who come to her for counseling stay together giving credence to the advice she offers in Break Up or Break Through: A Spiritual Guide to Richer Relationships. Written specifically for a gay and lesbian audience, its rules for good relationships invoke universal self-help themes such as respecting boundaries, overcoming personal limitations and creating intimacy. With its breathing exercises, "Spiritual Relationship Personal Inventory" tests and upbeat chakra-talk, it should appeal to New Age couples gay and straight.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Although this book is specifically aimed at a gay and lesbian audience, there is nothing in it (aside from a few pronoun references) that would preclude heterosexual readership. Psychotherapist Evan agrees with Paul Pearsall, author of Partners in Pleasure (reviewed below): too much unnecessary breaking up is going on. However, in stark contrast to Pearsall, she asserts that there can be no "we" until the "me" gets its act together. The majority of this work instructs readers how to let go of outdated emotional responses and live in the here and now. "Living in the Present," "Be Honest," and "Act Out of Love, Not Fear" are Evan's three rules for making relationships work. She explains that there is One Spirit, of which each of us possesses a little and which connects us to the Universe. Evan also offers exercises for single or dating readers. Hampered by a fuzzy and somewhat repetitive style (readers will wish they had a nickel for each time she proclaims that she's never had a patient die owing to an emotion), this book is a marginal purchase for most libraries.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Alyson Pubns
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1555836399
• ISBN 13: 9781555836399
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 350